The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-01
Is This Democracy?

enough between its objurgations TO say tina
''the people should be very considerate o
their public men," This is true, and, il
return, we submit that it is nc more thar
reasonable that public mon should be yer,
considerate Of the people. As to the press, i
IL tue only vehicle which the people have fo
conveying their wishes to Washington anc
making them known to each of the it'll,
great nobodies, who
Struts his hour upon the stage,
Aud then is seen no more"
and who en- masse, constitute the administra.
lion aud the Congress. Each recurring foui
years sends off one set aud brings on another
Jmly to find the newcomers little more de.
'uded with the coIceit of their greatness thar
their predecessors, and little less consciou,
uf their mortal origin aud destiny. Their,
can be no public duty more obligatory and
useful than that Of perpetually reminding
these men that they are the servants, and nol
the masters, of the people, and this duty i,
particularly binding upon those who by par.
uisan association, have made themselves il
some sort responsible for just account ol
the stewardship.
The C0urier.Jcarnat has shown no dispo.
sition to be severe in its judgment upon meu
IN Office. Touching the President and his
political advisers, we have been tolerant and
patient Every day in the year we are giving
Them, in the unbought support which we
give to Democratic organization and princi-
pies, the benefit of the assumption that they,
600, are Democrats. This is not the sort Of
support, however, that satisfies your profess
slonal placeman. To reach him, the in
lorsement must be personal. He never
considers the advantage be derives by in.
direction from a general political concur.
renee. But be is wide awake and duly SEN
sitive to the slightest suggestion which does
not start out by admitting that he was a
PRODIGY when born, and has been growing in
wisdom and virtue ever since. Everything
that is not seasonal with something of the
klud is either "diGtation" or ''abuse." o
course, there are newspapers, like that from
which we quoted in the beginning OF thin
article, to wag' the ever-cunsenting tail Of
he dog in the brass collar.
We might treat the administration very
differently and with good warrant. We
night propose practical discussion of tht
question whether President, t, who, on two
It the three leading issues Of the day, is di.
cectly opposed to great majority of hi,
paity, and on the third has shown him sell
joweIless to unite and lead it, is either SAFE
n proper custodian of the immediate pollti
sal future, and tie entire present stock in
Ct ade, of a great party organization. W,
night set IN foot not irrational inquiry
whether an administration which not oul,
Jiques itself upon keeping Republicans in
flee, as do the Secretaries of the Navy and
# War, but which keeps at least two Dc
jle to Democrats. deserves the confidence
md Support of ths lank aud file of the party
We might, in sho t, propose to cast about
ind test the assumption that we are in til,
lands of the Mugwumps, and have no es
;ape or recourse.
We have done nothing of the kind. We Sc,
public service everywhere bristlug with th,
nsolence of men n office whom the people
voted should go OUT Of Office We see every
lay these men acting as spies and informer
co the Republican organs and managers
greatly to the hurt of Democratic interests
which have no organized force to keel
them advised, aud are excluded from
he books by pal tisau enemies, who, unde
the protection of the admin stration, still
nold them. We see official rules and regu
| AAhichS " u OhlT6BlZb htl
insult Democrats till in force in the Depart
| nents and we have seen "a circular sent ou
under the seal and authority of one of th
Departments urging those in its service t.
convert themselves into agents for the circu
. Iati9n Of leading Republican (not Mug
: Sump) organ. We have privately and Del
sonally pleaded in vain Tor some kind q
recognition-not for ourselves, who do ne
want or need it-but for tho Democrat
- party, which these gentlemen profess to serv
and We are told in effect that the Democrati
party has no rights which the administratio
is bound to respect.
Meantime the President, folding his arm
In mantle OF oOnoience at once too loft
aud too sensitive to trouble itself with part
2 san considerations, stands sloof, deiguing t
listen only to those who .el, him it is all righ
, and thinking it extremely III Of those VIII
,f don't like it and say SO.
Is This is the situation to-day at Washing
u ton. and, ,if it continues practically unchauge
y until tue day of the next Presidential ele
A. a.